Finally falling asleep… at 5 am.

[Ceba1]

I was on pramiprexole for 15 years+. Gradually increasing until I discovered (me not my doctor who was clueless) the risks of augmentation. Started tapering down and was finally done with it about 6 weeks ago. The symptoms have been horrible. I started getting violent full-body convulsions when I try to rest, almost anytime of day or night. I am now on pregabalin. It is certainly not controlling the symptoms but there is a change recently. Finally, at about 5am, I fall asleep. My body is back on some kind of a circadian rhythm- even though it is entirely out of synch. My plan for now is to continue with the pregabalin for a few months and see if things improve. I have already cut out all other meds, as well as caffeine and other potential triggers. I get that the pregabalin may not work. But I want to give it a fair chance before resorting to opioids.

Has anyone here had success with this approach - seeing improvement over time by giving pregabalin a chance to work and getting further away from any lingering effects of the DA, and then supplementing with oral iron?

[Joolsg]

Definitely increase your serum ferritin above 200ųg ideally. That might help.Pregabalin and gabapentin often do not work after years on dopamine agonists. Experts suspect permanent damage is caused.

What dose of pregabalin are you on? The average is 150- 200mg.

If pregabalin doesn't cover your RLS after 6 weeks at average dose- you can increase to the 450mg maximum.

Or ask to switch to Buprenorphine.

[Ceba1 in reply to Joolsg]

Dose is 200 mg. I sleep 2-4 hours a night.

[madhttr]

My story is similar to yours, although I am just now preparing to eliminate the last 0.0625 mg of Pramipexole. I have started Gabapentin and increased to 800 mg which has helped with restless legs in the evening and to some extent afterward. I am often able to fall asleep initially, but my wife notices the leg spasms about every thirty seconds and I awake myself frequently until about 2 am; then I can sleep until 5-6 am. Oral iron has increased my ferritin from a low of 44 ųg a year ago to 125 ųg now. I will be interested to follow your case since you are six weeks ahead of me.